Grade adjustable barrier and a preassembled barrier panel

ABSTRACT

Preassembled barrier or fence panels are assembled with fasteners and a plurality of slip elements that permit the pickets and cross rails to move relative to each other or rack for installation and grade adjusts in the field without requiring loosening or removal of the fasteners.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a security barrier. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to pre-assembled panels fora security barrier. Most specifically, the invention relates to securitybarrier panels that are grade-adjustable as an assembly.

BACKGROUND

The prior art relating to grade adaptable security barriers requireson-site assembly of independent components. Typical, installation of asecurity barrier requires setting the end posts, securing the crossrails to the end posts, and attaching pickets to the cross rails. Thissequential assembly is done on-site to ensure the orientation of thebarrier matches the surface grade while the pickets remain substantiallyvertical. The major drawback to on-site assembly of the individualcomponents is that it is time consuming, weather dependent, and costly.

In view of the above, the industry desires assembled fence panels thatare grade-adjustable in the field.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides preassembled barrier panels that aregrade adjustable in the field. The cross rails and pickets of thebarrier panels are fastened in an assembled with slip elements thatpermit the pickets and cross rails to move relative to each other inrelationship to the grading without requiring loosening or removal ofthe fasteners. The barrier panels are preferably assembled with a postusing a similar fastener and slip element arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will becomeclearer from the following detailed description of preferred embodimentsthereof, made with reference to the attached drawings where: security

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of fence panelsand post on a horizontal surface;

FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly of FIG. 1 in a racked condition toconform to a changing grade;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembly like FIG. 1 with curvedpickets;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the connection at the circled area of FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the other side of the fasteningconnections in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a larger sectional view of the fastening connections in FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is a larger sectional view of the fastening connections in aracked condition;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a preferred assembly in a racked conditionwith spiked pickets;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a single picket in the assembly of FIG.8;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the picket in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation of the picket in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a right side elevation of the picket in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a left side elevation of the picket in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the picket in FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the picket in FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of single a picketwith a curved top suitable for the assembly in FIG. 8;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation of the picket in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a rear elevation of the picket in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a right side elevation of the picket in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a left side elevation of the picket in FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the picket in FIG. 16; and

FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the picket in FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a security barrier having a post 2 andpreassembled fence panels 1 having a plurality of pickets 4, at leasttwo cross rails 6, fasteners 8 that secure the pickets to the crossrails. The preassembled panels also include a plurality of slip element,see 18 in FIG. 4.

The pickets 4 may be straight, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9-15, orcurved at the top, as depicted in FIGS. 3, 8, and 16-22. For securityapplications, the tops 10 of the pickets 4 preferably have some form ofanti-climbing element, such as the spiked tops as shown. The pickets 4may be fabricated from bent and pressed metal tubes, such as steel oraluminum, or other material having sufficient strength and rigidity tomaintain a stable presence.

The cross rails 6, such as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 7, are preferablechanneled bars that have a “C” and are arranged parallel to each otherand vertically spaced over the picket's vertical length. In a preferredassembly, the gap between pickets 4 are sufficiently narrow,approximately four or less inches apart and preferably 3.75 inchesapart, to deter or hinder intruders from using the cross rails as ameans of traversing the security barrier. The pickets 4 preferablymaintain a generally perpendicular relationship to the cross rails 6.The pickets 4 and the cross rails 6 have complementary apertures thatalign and to receive fasteners joining the pickets and rails as anassembly.

The pickets 4 and cross rails 6, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7,are secured by fasteners 8, such as bolt 14 and nut 16 as shown in FIG.4, through the aligned apertures in the pickets 4 and the cross rails 6.Preferably, the bolt head is of a tamper resistance style and the nut 16is of a break-away style that fractures under a predetermined load andleaves a conically shaped, tamper resistant body. One suitable fastenerarrangement bolts and nuts are Loss Prevention Fasteners from UltraFasteners that have nut and bolts that break-away under the applicationof adequate torque. Another suitable arrangement of nut and bolts arestainless steel carriage bolts and Trident® stainless steel nutsavailable from Tanner Bolt and Nut Corp. of Brooklyn, N.Y.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a plurality of pickets 4 fastened to a crossrail 6 of what might be termed the exterior of the barrier and FIG. 7depicts what might be termed the interior or opposite side to that ofFIGS. 5 and 6.

Reference again to FIG. 4, the fastening arrangement for assembledbarrier panel includes at least one slip element 18 that is locatedbetween the abutment of each picket 4 and each cross rail 6. The slipelement 18 is a washer like disc that is located between abutment ofeach picket 4 and each cross rail 6 and enables movement between themwhen the panel is in and application where it is racked to a grade andsecured in place. Preferably, multiple slip elements 18 are locatedbetween the bolt head and the picket 4 and between the nut 16 and thecross rail 6. In this configuration, each fastening point has three slipelements 18. One acceptable slip element is a nylon washer manufacturedby Seastrom Manufacturing Co., Inc of Twin Falls, Id.

Advantageously, the slip element 18 allows the grade-adjustment orracking such that the cross rails 6 substantially match the contour ofsurface 12, see FIGS. 2 and 8, and the pickets 4 and posts 2 remaingenerally vertical as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. A major advantage ofthe slip elements 18 is that they allow the assembled panel to begrade-adjustable as an assembly without loosening the fasteners ordisassembling the panel. In other words, the slip elements permit thepickets and cross rails within an assembled panel to move relative toeach other without requiring loosening or removal of the fasteners. Oneadvantage of the preferred panels is that panel assemble within anoverall protective barrier does not require panel assembly to be carriedout at the job site when weather or conditions at the job site may makethe operation more difficult.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 7, the preferred post 2 for an assembledsecurity barrier has projecting attachment plates 20 connected to thepost 2, preferably by welding, for securing the cross rails 6 to thepost 2. The connecting plates 20 are position on the posts 2 at desiredheights which approximates the desired positions of the rails 6 relativeto the post 2 when the post 2 is secured in place.

The attachment 20 is sized and shaped to fit between the flanges 22 ofthe cross rail 6, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The sizing of plate 20 andthe space between flanges 22 of cross rail 6 are selected to accommodatethe angular change in the cross rail 6 due to racking of the panel.Additionally, the plate 20 may have relief notches 24 in its upper andlower portions to enable greater racking by permitting the respectiveflange 22 to extend beyond the respective surface 24. The fastenerconnecting the plate 20 and cross rail 6 preferably have a sliparrangement as described before in the event additional adjustment isdesired in the overall barrier, however it may be any fixed connectionthat is tamper resistant.

FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7 depict a post 2. The post 2 may be configured toconnect to successive panels as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or as an endpost as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The post 2 also may be configured toform a return by planning the plate 20 at various angles, such as 90degrees to the prior panel to run the barrier perpendicular from thatpanel.

What is claimed is:
 1. A grade-adjustable fence panel comprising: atleast two cross rails, each cross rail having a plurality ofpredetermined apertures; a plurality of pickets, each picket having anaperture that mates with at least one aperture among the plurality ofapertures in a respective one of the at least two cross rails; aplurality of fasteners that connect a respective picket to a respectivecross rail; and at least one slip element that is located between therespective picket and the respective cross rail and is retained in placeby a fastener positioned within mating apertures in the respectivepicket and the respective cross rail.
 2. The grade-adjustable fencepanel of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a bolt and a tighteningmember.
 3. The grade-adjustable fence panel of claim 2, wherein at leastone of the bolt and the tightening member has a break-away portion. 4.The grade-adjustable fence panel of claim 1, wherein the slip element isa nylon washer.
 5. The grade-adjustable fence panel of claim 1, whereinthe fastener is tamper-proof.
 6. The grade-adjustable fence panel ofclaim 1, wherein the slip element is located between the fastener andthe cross rail.
 7. The grade-adjustable fence panel of claim 1, whereinthe slip element is located between the fastener and the picket.
 8. Thegrade-adjustable fence panel of claim 1, wherein the slip element islocated between the picket and the cross rail.
 9. The grade-adjustablefence panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pickets is straight.10. The grade-adjustable fence panel of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe pickets is curved.
 11. The grade-adjustable fence panel of claim 1,wherein the pickets are spaced from each other by a distance that is nogreater than four inches.
 12. The grade-adjustable fence panel of claim1, wherein the pickets are spaced from each other by a distance that isno greater than three and three-quarters inches.
 13. A security barriercomprising: at least two vertically disposed posts wherein each post isadapted to interconnect to each cross rail of at least onegrade-adjustable fence panel; and at least one grade-adjustable fencepanel as defined in claim
 1. 14. The security barrier of claim 13,wherein the vertically disposed posts are steel tubes.
 15. The securitybarrier of claim 14, wherein the cross rails are steel rails.
 16. Thesecurity barrier of claim 15, wherein the pickets are steel pickets. 17.A grade-adjustable fence panel comprising: at least two cross rails; aplurality of pickets; a plurality of tamper resistant fasteners thatconnect the plurality of pickets to the cross rails in an assembledfence panel; and, a plurality of slip elements, wherein each of theplurality of tamper resistant fasteners secures at least one slipelement between a respective picket and a respective cross rail and theassembled fence panel racks for grade adjustment.
 18. Thegrade-adjustable fence panel of claim 17, wherein the fastener has twocomponents and at least one of the two components has a break-awayportion.